FIRST VOTES CAST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 8

FIRST VOTES CAST

ELECTORS LEAVE FOR SYDNEY By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, November 8. Votes were cast by a number of Auckland electors who left to-day by the Wanganella for Sydney and who were willing to take the chance that their favourite candidate for Parliament would not be “scratched” before the closing of r. ,minations on Tuesday. Thus they not only placed themcrlves outside the shores of New Zealand, but also put themselves irrevocably beyond the blandishments of rival candidates. The exercise of the franchise in this way is made possible by the postal voting system, which per* mits a postal vote, after necessary formalities, to be cast at any time after the issue of an election writ and before the clewing of the poll. Provided all the requirements are met, a postal vote, instead of being sent through the post, may be cast and delivered personally in the presence of the returning officer for the elector’s district. The votes cast to-day, with others that will be received by returning officers, will be locked away in secret and not put into the poll until the official count. The count on the night of the polling day is a provisional one only, postal votes and absentee votes not being : icluded in it.